Soccer-Bernardeschi and Gabbiadini out of Italy squad due to injury

Reuters Staff

2 Min Read

March 20 (Reuters) - Strikers Manolo Gabbiadini and Federico Bernardeschi have been ruled out of Italy’s internationals against Albania and the Netherlands due to injury, the Italian FA said on Monday.

Italy host Albania in a World Cup qualifier on Friday and travel to the Netherlands for a friendly four days later.

Gabbiadini, 25, who has been in fine form at Southampton, will not add to his six international caps after sustaining a groin injury in the English Premier League team’s 2-1 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Bernardeschi, 23, who plays for Fiorentina in Serie A, did not play at the weekend due to “persistent ankle pain”.

Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura has called up uncapped 21-year-old striker Andrea Petagna from Atalanta as a replacement.